In FY14, BTO funded PNNL to develop and integrate AFDD methods for both air-side and refrigerant-side fault detection and diagnostics with one of the leading advanced RTU controllers sold in the market today. The work also includes testing and validating the integrated solution in the field. If the results from the field demonstrations show reliable fault diagnostics, it will encourage utilities to provide incentives to pursue the integrated technology because it makes the retrofit controller more cost effective and could make market adoption of the retrofit controller even more attractive to building owners.
Seven AFDD algorithms were developed, deployed and tested on the RTU controller for detecting and diagnosing faults with RTU economizer and ventilation operations using sensors that are commonly installed for advanced control purposes.